Sunrise’s David ‘Kochie’ Koch has been slammed for claiming ‘men work harder than women’.
Former Marie Claire editor Jackie Frank hit out at the 61-year-old for his controversial comments during a segment on the breakfast show on Wednesday.
The fiery clash came during the news feed segment, where show guests Jackie, journalist Melissa Hoyer and The Thinkergirls’ Kristie Mercer discussed the topic of ‘man flu.’
His comments left his co-host Samantha Armytage looking on in disbelief, while presenter Natalie Barr looked shocked.
‘Science has proven that we get worn out because we work harder’: Sunrise host Kochie SLAMMED by his female co-stars after he says men ‘work harder than women’
Kochie said Canadian research found that man flu is real, as men have a weaker immune system because they work ‘harder’ than women.
He later went along with the research claims, before being shot down by the female panel.
‘It’s official, man flu is real. A Canadian researcher says males have a weaker immune system than women because we work so hard and are more likely to suffer complications,’ Kochie said during his segment introductions.
‘Do men demand more sympathy because women go to bed and get over it and men just keep moving and going on and working?,’ he asked to uproars from the female guests.
Controversial: The fiery clash came during the news feed segment, where Jackie, (L), journalist Melissa Hoyer, (R), and The Thinkergirls’ Kristie Mercer (M) discussed the topic of ‘man flu’
‘Women power through, men do not…what universe are you on?,’ Jackie said.
Kochie added that men ‘rarely whinge and moan’ about being sick, which set Jackie off.
‘There’s a reason mother nature gave us the possibility to deliver children, because you men could never do it,’ she said.
‘We soldier through everything and anything, 24/7,’ Melissa added.
Kochie tried to defend himself, saying that the divide in life expectancy between men and women, with women apparently living longer, says it all.
‘Science has proven that we get worn out because we work harder,’ Kochie said, with a smile coming across his face, presumably because he was joking.
Not impressed: Jackie then pointed out that his co-host Sam Armytage (seen) works the same hours as him
Jackie then pointed out that his co-host Sam Armytage works the same hours as him, and she gets up earlier than Kochie as she has to get her hair and makeup done before each show.
Kochie said the extra time isn’t needed, but Sam disagreed.
‘Do you think our ratings would be as high if Nat and I just came and sat on set looking all crappy in the morning?’ she said, as Natalie Barr sat beside her.
Awkward: Kochie’s comments come after he said that he wants to scale back his work commitments
Kochie’s comments come after he said that he wants to scale back his work commitments.
The TV star told The Daily Telegraph that he wasn’t leaving Sunrise, but will be ‘scaling back’ his role to just four days a week at some point.
‘I can definitely say I am around for a bit longer,’ Kochie said.
‘Two years ago when I signed my last contract I said if I want to renew in future I would want to look at scaling back,’ he added.
Channel Seven declined to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday.
The Sunrise stars: ‘Two years ago when I signed my last contract I said if I want to renew in future I would want to look at scaling back,’ Kochie said